Page 35 of Liam

Pax grinned, and Evelyn rolled her eyes.

Taamira led the way and soon had glasses on the table as Evelyn poured them all a glass.

“What about Blake and Mitch?” Taamira asked, looking around and wondering where the men had gone.

Pax waved a hand in the air as if that explained it all. “Oh, don’t mind them, they’ll be in the den watching football now.”

Callie was pulling out ingredients for the cheesecake, and Pax was checking the pot she’d had Blake put in the oven. The smell of spices and cream hit her nose, and Taamira’s tummy rumbled with hunger.

“That smells divine.”

“It’s a recipe I got off Pinterest. It’s Blake’s favourite, and I want a new pair of shoes, so…”

Taamira laughed at that piece of information.

“If you like the smell of that, this is going to blow your mind,” Callie called as she went through the cupboards looking for a whisk.

“Can I help?” Taamira asked as Pax and Evelyn sat at the kitchen table with a glass of the juice.

Callie smiled. “Of course.” She handed Taamira the whisk and showed her what to do, and opened a can of cherries.

“Liam mentioned you like to cook,” Callie said.

Taamira glanced at her still thinking she looked familiar but not placing her. “I am learning, but at the moment I am very much a new foal.”

“Me too. I never got the chance to eat a lot of dessert before now, what with the modelling but now I’m retired so I can eat whatever the hell I want.” Callie popped a cherry into her mouth as she spoke.

“That’s it, you’re the model. I knew I recognised your face from somewhere.”

“I was the model now I’m just a business-woman.”

“What do you do?”

“Callie is a philanthropist,” Pax added from her spot at the table.

“Really?” Taamira said, intrigued.

“Well, I’ve started a charity for models and girls who have eating disorders and addiction problems. It’s very much in its infancy, so if you have any advice for me I’d really appreciate it.”

“Oh, I would be delighted to help you in any way I can.”

“Thank you.”

The room was filled with chatter for the next thirty minutes as the three of them got to know her and she them. It was an experience she had never had before, and the more they shared stories of how they met the men they loved, the more Taamira relaxed. By the time the food was ready she felt like she had three new friends, the first she had ever had.

Pax had taken food through to Mitch and Blake who had said they were happy to sit in the den and eat so the girls could gossip.

Pax had laughed. “Gunmen and terrorists they can handle, but four women scares the crap out of them.”

Taamira dug into her food and groaned at the first forkful. “Oh, this is amazing.”

“I know, right. I love Pinterest. I get all my recipes on there.”

“I have not heard of it,” Taamira replied, and all three women looked at her.

“No way. Pinterest is like the black hole. It sucks you in for hours and then spits you back out full of new recipes and home decoration ideas.”

“And hot pics of men,” Evelyn added with a laugh which had the other two joining in.